US 12,148,222 B2
Assisted vehicle operation with improved object detection
David Michael Herman, W. Bloomfield, MI (US); Akshay Vaidya, Canton, MI (US); Larry Sanders, Monroe, MI (US); and Binduhasini Sairamesh, Sunnyvale, CA (US)
Assigned to Ford Global Technologies, LLC, Dearborn, MI (US)
Filed by Ford Global Technologies, LLC, Dearborn, MI (US)
Filed on Jan. 19, 2022, as Appl. No. 17/578,622.
Prior Publication US 2023/0230387 A1, Jul. 20, 2023
Int. Cl. G06V 20/58 (2022.01); B60W 30/06 (2006.01); B62D 15/02 (2006.01); G01B 11/22 (2006.01); G01S 13/86 (2006.01); G01S 13/931 (2020.01); G06T 7/521 (2017.01); G06T 7/73 (2017.01); G06V 10/141 (2022.01); B60Q 1/04 (2006.01); B60Q 1/20 (2006.01); B60Q 1/22 (2006.01); B60Q 1/34 (2006.01); B60Q 1/44 (2006.01); B60R 11/00 (2006.01); B60R 11/04 (2006.01)
CPC G06V 20/58 (2022.01) [B60W 30/06 (2013.01); B62D 15/026 (2013.01); G01B 11/22 (2013.01); G01S 13/867 (2013.01); G01S 13/931 (2013.01); G06T 7/521 (2017.01); G06T 7/73 (2017.01); G06V 10/141 (2022.01); B60Q 1/04 (2013.01); B60Q 1/20 (2013.01); B60Q 1/22 (2013.01); B60Q 1/34 (2013.01); B60Q 1/44 (2013.01); B60R 2011/004 (2013.01); B60R 11/04 (2013.01); B60W 2300/14 (2013.01); B60W 2420/403 (2013.01); B60W 2420/408 (2024.01); G06T 2207/10152 (2013.01); G06T 2207/30252 (2013.01)] 18 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A detection system for a vehicle comprising:
a camera configured to capture image data depicting a field of view proximate to the vehicle;
a plurality of light sources in connection with the vehicle, wherein the plurality of light sources comprise a first light source and a second light source in connection with opposing portions of the vehicle and include a combination of two or more tail lights, reverse lights, turn indicators, headlights, fog lights, or auxiliary lights of the vehicle; and
a controller that:
activates the plurality of light sources in an alternating pattern at an illumination frequency;
captures the image data depicting light reflected from at least one object at a timing corresponding to the alternating pattern at the illumination frequency; and
in response to variations in the light impinging upon the at least one object from the alternating pattern, identifies depth information for at least one pixel of the image data corresponding to a location of the at least one object.